Amid massive protests across India over NEET paper leaks, the Centre removed Vineet Joshi as Secretary of the Department of Higher Education and replaced him with Naresh Pal Gangwar, according to an official government notification issued late Thursday night. The high-level bureaucratic reshuffle coincides with the Delhi High Court forming a fast-track court to handle exam paper leak cases, following public demonstrations at Jantar Mantar and an announcement from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Bureaucratic Reshuffle in the Education Ministry
Vineet Joshi, a 1992-batch officer of the Manipur cadre, has been reassigned as Secretary in the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, according to the government notification. Joshi holds a B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering from IIT Kanpur and an MBA from the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade in New Delhi. His career includes serving as Chief Secretary of Manipur, the first Director-General of the National Testing Agency, and two separate terms as Chairman of the Central Board of Secondary Education.
Naresh Pal Gangwar, a 1994-batch officer of the West Bengal cadre, steps in to replace Joshi. Gangwar previously served as Secretary in the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying. In addition to this change, TK Anil Kumar received a new appointment as Secretary for the Department of School Education and Literacy, completing the latest structural shift within the ministry.
Delhi High Court Establishes Fast-Track Court for Exam Offenses
The Delhi High Court established a fast-track court to hear exam paper leak cases, operating hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted assurances on X. Government sources indicated that a delegation from the satirical political group Cockroach Janta Party is likely to meet Union ministers at 12:30 pm regarding the ongoing situation.
The newly created fast-track court will try offenses under the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, and related matters. According to the court’s mandate, all pending cases filed under this legislation will transfer to the new tribunal immediately. The anti-cheating law carries penalties of up to five years in prison and a fine of Rs 10 lakh for individuals found guilty. Prime Minister Modi stated in a video statement released Thursday night that more strict actions against paper leaks would arrive in the cabinet.
Did You Know? Vineet Joshi previously served two separate terms as Chairman of the Central Board of Secondary Education—first from February 2010 to November 2014, and again from February 2022 to August 2022.
Demonstrations at Jantar Mantar and Police Response
Protests at Jantar Mantar showed no sign of winding down on Thursday, with hundreds of young demonstrators gathering to voice grievances. Participants raised concerns encompassing the NEET case, broader unemployment issues, and alleged irregularities in the CBSE on-screen marking process, while demanding wide-ranging reforms in public examination procedures.
The demonstrations began on June 6, gaining momentum after Ladakh activist Sonam Wangchuk joined via an indefinite hunger strike on June 28 and was subsequently taken to a hospital by police over the weekend. On Monday, Delhi Police deployed tear gas and baton-charged the crowd. Witnesses reported that dozens of protesters and police officers sustained injuries, while footage of officers striking and dragging demonstrators circulated widely online, intensifying public scrutiny over the police response.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who replaced Vineet Joshi as Secretary of the Department of Higher Education?
Naresh Pal Gangwar took over the position following an official government notification issued late Thursday night.
What does the newly established fast-track court handle?
The fast-track court tries offenses under the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, and related cases, absorbing all pending matters filed under the law immediately.
What penalties are outlined under the anti-cheating law?
The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024, provides for imprisonment of up to five years and a fine of Rs 10 lakh for individuals found guilty.
? How will the newly appointed education officials and fast-track courts impact student confidence in upcoming national examinations?
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